Plating with Style Tips

Have you ever slaved away in the kitchen to create the perfect meal, only to throw your pride out the window when you plop that dinner on the plate?

Three frustrated home cooks to brought their favorite in-demand meals for a lesson in plating in style!

Lets see if we can take these plates from pathetic to perfection!

Marinated Steak Salad

First up we have Quiana and she brought her marinated steak salad. She typically serves it with steak grilled, then cut into chunks, served in a bowl with mixed greens, chopped tomatoes, crumbled gorgonzola cheese, and an Italian-style vinaigrette.

Instead of dumping everything into bowls Clinton suggested serving the salad family-style for a more dramatic presentation. Slice steak and fan out on a platter. Instead of mixed greens try using endive stands up to the steak.

Lay your salad out layer by layer - steak, endive, and then tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes are in season – a row of them halved on the plate looks great. Finally, crumble gorgonzola on top of everything.

Grilled Salmon with Asparagus and Potato Salad

Next up is Theresa and her salmon grilled on a cedar plan is a summer staple in her home. She likes to serve it with grilled asparagus and classic potato salad, but the plate never looks as delicious as it tastes.

Clinton says make the potato salad look special by shaping it with a ring mold. If you don’t have one you can also use a ramekin or small bowl. Then top potato salad with asparagus spears. Finally, lay salmon over top of asparagus.

Quick tip: Make extra dressing for potato salad and use to dress plate and top the salmon

Crème De Methe Brownies

Genna, you brought along her famous dessert brownies and while they look great on there own she couldn’t think of a special way to plate brownies.

Clinton was up for the challenge and suggested she drizzle chocolate sauce on plate in pattern. Then chill brownies before cutting them for clean edges and then cut them in triangles and stack or lean them on each other. Then dust entire plate with powdered sugar through a sifter.

Quick Tip: For a party, set up a brownie bar – sauces, toppings, etc. This allows people to make their dessert their own.